Roll banding machine

ABSTRACT

A machine to apply bands of heat-shrinkable, fusible material around coiled rolls of sheet material by feeding said rolls intermittently along a path to provide stationary intervals during which one of a pair of clamping and sealing jaws moves between successive rolls to form at least one band of material around said rolls successively. Additional conveyor means move said banded rolls along heating means, while rotated continuously, to effect shrinking of said bands closely around said rolls.

Elsner et al.

[ Dec. 4, 1973 1 1 ROLL BANDING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Bertram F.Elslier; Frank Elsner,

Jr., both of Hanover, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Elsner Engineering Works, Inc.,

Hanover, Pa.

[22] Filed: Jan. 7, 1972 I [21] Appl. N0.: 216,012

[52] US. Cl. 53/198 R, 53/182 [51] Int. Cl. B65b 27/06, 1365b 13/02 [58]Field of Search 53/182, 184, 198 R 5 6] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 8/1970 West et a1 53/229 X 12/1964 Monaghan 3,236,024 2/1966Bradley et a1 53/198 R 2,741,885 4/1956 Allison 53/198 R 3,490,194

1/1970 Monaghan 53/182 X Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee AssistantExaminer-John Sipos Attorney-C. Hercus Just [5 7 1 ABSTRACT A machine toapply bands of heat-shrinkable, fusible material around coiled rolls ofsheet material by feed ing said rolls intermittently along a path toprovide stationary intervals during which one of a pair of clamping andsealing jaws moves between successive rolls to form at least one band ofmaterial around said rolls successively. Additional conveyor means movesaid banded rolls along heating means, while rotated continuously, toeffect shrinking of said bands closely around said rolls. M

3,577,866 5/1971 Ehrenfried 53/184 2,880,560 4/1959 Gibson 53/ 198 R 28Claims, 11 Drawing Figures 1T UU'U'C ,26 .'E 11Qs6e* :;1-1@ 5 28 46 We aPAIENTED 41975 3.775.939

SIIIEI 3 OF 7 RECEIVING END FIG. 3

DISCHARGE END FIG4 PATENTED 4 SHHI 5 (ll 7 BLT/5.939

PATENTED DEC 41973 SHEET 8 1F 7 PATENTED HEB M973 SHEET 7 BF 7 ROLLBANDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Domestic wrapping materialsand other forms of sim ilar sheet material usually are manufactured instrips of indefinite length which are coiled into large rolls completelyunsuitable for use especially for domestic and many types of commercialpurposes. Accordingly, it is common practice to utilize rewindingmachines which accommodate large supply rolls of said sheet material andautomatically wind upon inexpensive tubes of suitable length usableshorter lengths of said material, or coreless coiled lengths thereof,whereby a large supply roll thereof is capable of forming a large numberof such smaller rolls of material. When the smaller rolls of materialare formed however, preventing unwinding of the material frequentlypresentsproblems unless the material is immediately disposed withincartons such as those having a serrated tearing strip along one edge asare commonly used in connection with merchandising many forms ofdomestic wrapping material including metal foil, waxed paper, syntheticresin wrapping material, and the like.

There are other types of wrapping material however which do not readilylend themselves to being'merchandised in boxes or cartons, such as rollsof gift wrapping material, including Christmas wrapping paper orlaminated foil which frequently are of relatively short lengths, aslittle as or 12 feet or even less. Heretofore, it has been commonpractice to utilize small dots of adhesive between the inner surface ofthe outer end of such coils and the next convolution, or utilizing smallpieces of strips of pressure sensitive adhesive tape of common typewhich is disposed against the inner surface or which extends across theouter surface of the end of the coil of sheet material and is adhered tothe adjacent surface of the next convolution. In particular however,these adhesive types of arrangements for preventing the uncoiling ofrolls ofsheet material have not been satisfactory, especially undercircumstances where the adhesive has a tendency to bleed through or intothe sheet material in a manner to discolor the same being coiled, eithera single band is applied centrally between opposite ends of a coil ofrelatively narrow material, while two or even three bands of suchsecuringmaterial are applied to coils of wider material, such asadjacent opposite ends and/or in the middle of the rolls between saidends. One very suitable type of banding material comprisesheat-shrinkable synthetic resin such as polyvinylchloride and otherresins having similar characteristics. Such material has been used forsome period of time to effect a seal between the neck of a jar or abottle and a cap connected thereto by screw threads. In utilizing suchheat-shrinkable material for application in the-form of bands aroundcoiled rolls of sheet material of the type referred to however,

2. very thin strips of heat-shrinkable material may be employed. Whilethis material has been known as being available however, applying bandsthereof to rolls of coiled sheet material, fusing the ends of such bandsto gether, and subsequently shrinking the same by subjection to heat haspresented a number of difficult problems, especially when it isconsidered that the diameters and widths of such rolls of material varywidely and it is of course preferable that any machine for applying suchbands to rolls of said material should be capable of being adjusted toaccommodate rolls of a reasonably wide range of diameters and widths.

Attempts to apply bands of securing material to coiled rolls of sheetmaterial comprises the subject matter of several prior patents; US. Pat.No. 3,325,966 dated June 20, 1967, in the names of Bruce et al., and US.Pat. No. 3,523,402, dated Aug. 11, 1970, in the names of West et a].These machines are relatively complex, due primarily to the fact thatthey are'predicated upon the principle of moving the banding unit ofeach machine with the coiled rolls of material as the same move along apath while disposed upon different kinds of conveyors. The rolls ofmaterial are rotated in the direction of the coil of the sheet materialin order to prevent the same from unrolling while moving along said pathincident to the securing bands being applied to said rolls.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to providea banding machine operable upon different principles from those employedin said prior patents, especially for purposes of simplifying theconveying means for the rolls of material and dispensing with anythingresembling a rectilinear movement of the band-applying unit as employedin said patented structures referred to above. These objectives areachieved by employing the following general principles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the presentmachine to feed coiled rolls of sheet material by means of a conveyorwhich effects intermittent feeding of the coiled roll, interspersed withshort stationary periods to provide an opportunity for one of a pair ofrelatively movable anvil and clamping jaws to extend between a pair ofrolls of said material which are spaced longitudinally apart along thepath of movement thereof and thereby simplify the successive positioningof said rolls with respect to the banding unit of the machine as well aspermit the utilization of relatively simple additional means to effectaccommodation of rolls of material of various diameters and therebyunder the machine reasonably universal in character.

It is another object of the invention to provide relatively simpleheat-shrinking means which are traversed by the rolls after bands ofsecuring material have been loosely formed therearound, the conveyor bywhich such traversing movement is effected being adapted to continuouslyrotate the rolls and the loose bands thereon to assure even heating forall sections of the band to effect desired uniform shrinking thereofaround said roll.

it is a further object of the invention to provide support and operatingmeans for disposing bandsof said securing material around said rolls ofcoiled material at desired longitudinal locations along said roll, themeans by which said bands are disposed around said rolls beingtransversely adjustable relative to the conveyor,

said band-applying mechanism including a pair of relatively movableanvils and oneof the same preferably being stationary but verticallyadjustable toward and from the conveyor in order to adapt the same tosatisfactory functioning upon rolls of a substantial range of differentdiameters, it being understood that when the machine is initially set upto accommodate a run of coiled rolls of material, all of said rolls areof uniform diameter for any given run thereof.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means tovertically adjust the receiving end of the conveyor relative to the exitor delivery end, for example,

of a machine in which said rolls of material are formed, such as bybeing coiled around inexpensive, disposable tubes or forming corelessrolls.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide power typedrive-means to effect continuous drive of the conveyor which moves theloosely banded rolls past the heat-shrinking means, while the unbandedrolls are moved intermittently by another conveyor to deliver the rollssequentially to the banding unit.

It is still another object of the invention to employ sequentiallyoperable clutch and brake means which are interconnected to electricmotor power means to effect such intermittent feeding movement of therolls of material to the banding unit.

One further object of the invention is to provide an additional electricmotor power unit for driving cam means by which a clamping jaw is movedtoward and from the anviljaw and one of said jaws having electricalresistance heating means which is-energized only momentarily to effectthe sealing of a band of securing material around each roll ofcoiledmaterial and, simultaneously, connect the ends of two strips of saidbanding material which have been severed by said heating means from theloose coil applied around said roll while said severed ends of thesupply strip of banding material are fused together to reestablish acontinuous band applicable around the next successive roll of material.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as otherobjects thereof, are set forth in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising apart thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS trated in FIG.. I but from whichcertain details of the machine have been omitted in order to simplifythe view and clearly illustrate certain adjustable mechanism of saidmachine.

FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively are vertical elevations showing the inlet anddischarge ends of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but from whichviews of certain details of the driving mechanism have been omitted inorder to simplify the illustrations.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of an intermediateportion of the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to illustrate details ofthe banding unit thereof.

FIG. 6 is another enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of a portion ofthe machine shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating details of part of thedriving mechanism, including the portion which drives the banding unit.'

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 1 andillustrated in a slightly larger scale than utilized in FIG. 1, a numberof the details of the machine being omitted in FIG. 7 for purposes ofprimarily illustrating, somewhat in diagramatic form, the basicprinciples of the drive mechanism of the machine, said view being partlyforeshortened to accommodate the same to the sheet.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 from which many of the details of themachine have been omitted to simplify the illustration and said viewprimarily showing the supporting and adjusting means for the guide railsassociated with the conveyors of the machine, said view also beingforeshortened intermediately of its end to accommodate the same to thesheet.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary layout view of the control panel which isotherwise illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of an exemplary roll of coiled material withsecuring bands attached thereto as applied by the machine comprising thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of a detail of the mechanismwhich effects precise positioning of the rolls relative to the bandingunit of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1 in particular, it will be seenthat the banding machine comprising the present invention is shown inassociation with a rewinding machine 10 of an industrial type, whichdoes not comprise part of the present invention and therefore isillustrated in phantom. Primarily the machine 10 illustrates anexemplary path of movement of cylindrical tubes or cores upon whichpredetermined lengths of sheet material have been coiled to form rolls12 of such coiled material, or coreless rolls of such material. Therolls 12 are delivered sequentially, in a timed sequence, to thereceiving end 14 of the banding machine 16 which embodies the principlesof the present invention. The rolls 12 are delivered in substantiallyevenly spaced sequential position from rhe rewinding machine 10, thespacing illustrated in FIG. 1 being substantially exemplary and of apractical nature.

The banding machine 16 comprises a plurality of frames which areidentified herein as a base frame 18 which is provided with apluralityof legs 20, the lower ends of which rest upon a suitablesupporting surface such as a floor 22. Conventional leveling means areprovided in the ends of the legs 20 to permit the machine to be set inlevel condition upon the floor in accordance with customary practice.

Another frame, which for purposes of identity if termed main frame 24,extends longitudinally along the machine between opposite ends thereofin spaced relationship above the upper members of the base frame 18. Theprincipal purpose of the main frame is to support an endless conveyor 26which extends from the receiving end 14 of the banding machine towardthe exit end 28 thereof, passing through the banding unit 30 andterminating a short distance there beyond.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the endless conveyor 26comprises a pair of transversely spaced endless belts 32 which extendaround idler pulleys 34, supported by frame 24, adjacent the receivingend 14 of the banding machine, and the opposite ends of said I endlessbelts extend around drive pulleys 36, details of which are best shown inFIG. 6 but are also somewhat diagramatically shown in FIG. 2. The drivepulleys 36 are mounted upon and fixed to a drive shaft 38 upon which apair of idler pulleys 40 are rotatably mounted which support one end ofendless belts of an additional conveyor 42 comprising a pair of suchendless flexible belts 44 which extend around additional idler pulleys46 mounted upon a shaft 48 which is supported by the main frame 24adjacent the exit end 28 of the banding machine. From FIG. 2, it will beseen that the belts 44 are displaced inwardly toward each other from themain frame 24. Belts 44 also extend around a pair of drive pulleys 50which are connected to a drive shaft 52, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, andespecially FIG. 7. The drive shaft 52 is driven by power means describedhereinafter.

The banding machine 16 also includes a third frame which, for purposesof identity, is termed an auxiliary frame 54 which primarily comprises apair of guide rails 56 which areparallel to and vertically spaced abovethe upper courses of the endless belts 32 which are supported by themain frame 24. For purposes of distinguishing the relative locations, atleast in a vertical direction, of the base frame 18, main frame 24, andauxiliary frame 54, attention is directed to FIG. 8 wherein it will beseen that the guide rails 56 are continuous between the receiving andexit ends of the machine. To accommodate incidental limited variationsin the diameters of rolls 12 produced by the rewinding machine 10, andalso to provide suitable friction, the lower surfaces of rails 56preferably are provided with strips 57 of compressible material such asfoam rubber or equivalent media such as foam resins and the like. Thesestrips may be cemented or otherwise affixed to said rails.

FIG. 8 illustrates in simplified manner the means by which, the variousframes are supported in relationship to each other. In said view, itwill be seen that the upper horizontal beams 58 of the main frame 18have a supporting channel extending transversely between the beams 58and the ends of the channel are secured by welding or otherwise thereto.The channel 60 supports a U-shaped frame 62 having opposite parallelvertical side plates 64 which are provided in the upper ends thereofwith anti-friction bearing 66 which support the drive shaft 38. Saidshaft is driven by a sprocket gear 68 which is fixed to one end thereofand the sprocket gear 68 is driven by a powered sprocket gear 70 bymeans of a sprocket chain 72. Sprocket gear 70 is mounted upon a driveshaft 74 which extends from a gear reduction unit 76 shownin FIG. 7. Theinput shaft of the unit 76 is driven through a clutch-brake unit 78which is driven by power means comprising an electric motor 80 throughpulley 81 as also shown in FIG. 7. Details of the function of theclutch-brake unit 78 are described hereinafter.

The main frame 24 extends substantially continuously from the receivingend 14 to the exit end 28 of the banding machine, as best shown in FIG.8. As indicated above, the principal function thereof is to support theendless conveyor 26 which terminates at its inner end at the axis ofdrive shaft 38, and the additional conveyor 42 continues from the axisof drive shaft 38 to the exit end 28 of the machine. These conveyors arenot illustrated in. FIG. 8 but are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The mainframe comprises a pair of paraliel side plates 82 which, in crosssectiommay either be angle irons, channels, or tubes so as to impartrigidity to the frame. The side plates 82 are coincident with theendless conveyor 26 comprising the endless belts 32 and extendvertically between the upper and lower courses of said belts.Intermediately of the ends thereof, the side plates 82 are provided withantifriction bearings 84, see FIG. 2, through which the drive shaft 38extends, said shaft being supported by U shaped frame 62 and bearings 66thereon. lncidently, the main frame 24 is adapted for limited pivotalmovement about the axis of the transverse shaft 146 in order to adjust,in particular, the receiving end 14 of the andless conveyor 26 withrespect to the discharge means of the rewinding machine 10. Verticaladjustment of the receiving end of the main frame 24 is effected by aplurality of screw jacks 86, see FIGS. 1 and 2. Said jacks includerotary adjusting nuts 88 which have sprocket gears thereon surrounded bysprocket chain 90 which also extends around a driving sprocket 92operable by a ratchet handle 94 readily accessible at one side of themachine, as shown best in FIG. 2.

In order that a pathway of even vertical height will be provided betweenthe lower surfaces of the guide rails 56 and the upper courses of thefeed belts 32 and 44, the auxiliary frame 54 which supports the guiderails 56 is interconnected to the main frame 24 by means of a pluralityof transverse bars 96 which extend through appropriate openings in theside plates 82 or appropriatebrackets connected thereto. As will be seenespecially from FIG. 2, the bars 96 project laterally in oppositedirection from the auxiliary frame 54 substantial amounts so that theouter ends thereof are approximately in vertical alignment with theupper horizontal beam 58 of the base frame 18. Triangular shapedbrackets 98 project upwardly from the outer ends of the pairs of bars 96and terminate in bearings 100 through which the opposite ends ofactuating shafts I02 extend.

The shafts 102 support short crank arms I84 intermediately of the endsthereof and the outer ends of said crank arms are pivotally connected tobrackets 1.06 which are fixed to and extending upwardly from the guiderails 56 comprising auxiliary frame 54.

For purposes of vertically adjusting the guide rails 56 toward and fromthe upper courses of the endless belts 32 and 44 of the feed conveyorson main frame, 24, the opposite outer ends of the actuating shafts 102have depending crank arms 108 affixed thereto, as best shown in FIG. 8,but also are illustrated somewhat diagramati cally in FIG. 2. The lowerend of the crank arms 108 have crank pins 110 thereon between whichelongated connecting rods I12 extend. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, itwill be seen that adjacent one side of the main frame 24, an adjustingshaft 114 is suitably supported by a bearing on one of the brackets 98.A hand wheel 116 is affixed to the outer end thereof and the oppositeend is threaded through a block 118 which is pivotally connected to oneof the depending crank arms 108. The shaft 114 is prevented from axialmovement by the bearing and collar unit 120 on said bracket 98.Accordingly, upon rotation of the hand wheel 1 16, the depending crankarms 108 are all moved simultaneously in the said direction for purposesof either raising or lowering the auxiliary frame 54 toward and from theconveyors on the main frame 24.

The foregoing description pertains to the principal frame structure andthe conveyors of the banding machine 16. The mechanism thus described isoperable by power means to be described in detail hereinafter forpurposes of feeding coiled rolls 12 of coiled sheet material from thereceiving end 14 of the machine to the exit end 28 thereof.Intermediately of said path of movement, securing bands of preferablyheat-shrinkable, fusible type are applied to the rolls 12, either one ora plurality of bands being applied thereto, depending upon the width ofthe coiled rolls of material and the degree of closure desired for suchrolls. The mechanism by which such bands are applied to the rolls isdescribed as follows.

BANDING UNIT 1 The banding unit 30 has been broadly referred to in thedescription of FIG. 1. Details thereof are best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,but particularly in FIG. 5. Referring to said figures, it will be seenthat especially in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, coiled rolls 122 of bandingmaterial 124 of suitable width are supported respectively at oppositesides of the auxiliary frame 54, particularly for purposes of encirclingthe rolls 12 of coiled sheet material with a pair of bands 126, shownspecifically in FIG. 5. It is to be understood however that, especiallyif relatively narrow rolls of material are to be banded, a single pairof such coils 122 are utilized and the same would be mountedintermediately of the guide rails 56, as viewed in FIG. 2 in particular,the same being mounted upon the shafts 128 which extend outwardly fromuprights on bar 130 to support the upper rolls of each pair of coiledrolls 122, while additional short shafts 132, on upright members 134,which are adjustably supported by a transverse bar 136 provided in baseframe 18, as seen in FIG. 3, support the lower rolls 122.

, Referring to FIG. 5, the bands 126 of banding material which come fromthe upper roll 122 of each pair are identified as band 124, while theband 124 of materialwhich leads from the lower roll 122 of each pair isidentified as 124". By means to be described hereinafter, the ends ofsaid bands are fused together at a joint 138 shown in FIG. 5. As therolls 12 of coiled material roll along in a rotary direction whichmaintains the coiled material in coiled condition, as distinguished fromuncoiling direction, it will be seen that roll A which moves in thedirection of the arrow shown thereon, is approaching the transverselyextending, continuous strip of banding material 124. By means to bedescribed hereinafter, the feed belts 32 move the rolls 12intermittently in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5. Theperiods of intermittent movement are interspersed by a stationaryperiod, and during these periods, the banding process is effected.Details of the same are described hereinafter.

It will be assumed that, as viewed in FIG. 5, the roll A is advancing inthe direction of the arrow. When it engages the bands or strips 124 ofconnected banding material, continued rotation of roll A toward theleft, as viewed in FIG. 5, will cause the band or bands 124 of materialto be moved toward the left in said figure until roll A is disposed inthe position shown with respect to roll B. At this location in the pathof movement of the rolls, roll B will be stationary as a result ofperiodic stopping of the supporting conveyor belts 32. During suchstopped condition of roll B, it will be seen that the connected band orbands 124 of the banding material will be extended around roll B, theportion 124 thereof being in engagement with the lower surface of astationary upper anvil jaw 140. Upon the roll B reaching the positionshown in FIG. 5, mechanism, to be described, will be activated to causetransverse bar 142, which is supported adjacent opposite ends by a pairof arms 144,-which are connected at one end to transverse shaft 146, seeFIGS. 1 and 6, is caused to move upwardly about the axis of shaft 146for purposes of carrying clamping jaw 148 into abutting engagementwithstationary anvil jaw 140. The initial, inoperative position of clampingjaw 148 is shown in phantom in FIG. 5, while the clamping positionthereof is shown in full lines in said figure.

Incident to the movement of the band strips 124' and 124" from theinitial position thereof, to the position in which the same encircle theroll B, the banding strips are guided respectively such as by the strip124 being guided through a pair of guides 150 and the strip l24 beingguided through a single guide 152 carried by the clamping jaw 148.

As soon as the continuous strip'of banding material 124 has been formedin encircling condition around the roll B, for example, it will be seenthat one of the jaws, and preferably the upper anvil jaw 140 is providedwith electrical resistance heating means in the form of a resistancewire 154, current to which is controlled by means to be describedhereinafter. As soon as the clamping jaw 148 has been brought intoclamping engagement with the operative face of anvil jaw 140, theresistance wire 154 is fired, to initially heat the same instantaneouslyto a temperature which is adequate to both sever and re-fuse theabutting strips of securing or banding material 124' and 124" intosealed connection at the side of the roll B which is oppositethe initialjoint 138 between said strips, thereby forming a new joint 138 and,simultaneously, fusing the ends of the strips 124' and 124" together toform a subsequent continuous strip 124 with respect to each pair ofcoils 122 of such banding material wherever they are disposed withrespect to' the path of movement of the rolls l2.

Immediately upon the firing of the fusing means 154 of the banding unit,the clamping jaw 148 is retracted to the phantom position thereof shownin FIG. 5, thereby carrying the connected band 124 of banding materialto the irregular broken line position thereof shown in FIG. 5 which isthe initial, starting position of said band, which then is in position,for example, to be engaged by the roll A during its advancing movementtoward its banding position B shown in FIG. 5. Meanwhile, the bandedroll B moves to the left, for traverse through a heat-Shrinking area ofthe machine, details of which are described hereinafter.

In the preferred. construction of the machine comprising the invention,and with reference to FIG. 1, the base frame 18 is provided with a pairof upright plates 156 which respectively extend upwardly from heopposite ends of the horizontal beam 58 of the base frame 18. As shownin FIG. 5, a support in the form of an angle bar 158 extendstransversely between the plates 156 adjacent the upper ends thereof. Oneweb of the angle bar 158 slides upon the angular forward faces 160 ofthe plates 156 and it will be seen from FIG. 2

that the other web of the angle bar 158 is provided with a plurality ofslots 162. Said slots are for purposes of receiving respectivelyindividual upper anvil jaws 140 for each of the strips 124 of bandingmaterial. Correspondingly, the transverse bar 212, which is arcuatelymov able, is similarly provided with individual clamping shown in FIG.6, likewise is provided with slots corresponding to the slots 162 ofangle bar 158, whereby clamping bolts 164, shown in FIG. 6, secure theblocks 142 and clamping jaws 148 to the transverse bar 212 in oppositionto the individual anvil jaws 140 on bar 158. The individual clampingjaws 140 are secured to bar 158 by means of readily engageable, threadedclamping members 166.

For purposes of varying the position of the anvil jaws 140 and theresistance wire 154 thereon relative to guide rail 56, particularly in asubstantially vertical direction, the flange 168 of angle bar 158 hasprojections 170 extending rearward, adjacent opposite ends thereof, forengagement by threaded adjusting screws 172 which are manipulated byhand crank wheels 174, shown in FIG. 5, to effect such adjustment.

HEAT-SHRINKING UNIT Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that when theencircling band or bands 124 are disposed around the coiled rolls ofsheet material 12, identified as roll B, said bands are not taut.Preferably, the banding material 122 is of a heat-shrinkable type ofsynthetic resin. One appropriate resin composition comprisespolypropylene. Other types of plastics having similar heatshrinkablematerial may be used. The specific type of material is not essential tothe present invention, as long as it is capable of being shrunk during arelatively short period of time and by the use of reasonable ranges ofheat.

One form of heating means to effect such shrinking of the encirclingbands of securing material 124 are electrical resistance bars or coils176 which are supplied with current by conventional means. Referring toFIG. 2, it will be seen that an exemplary pair of such resistance means176 are shown, the same being in longitudinal alignment withthe coils ofbanding material 122 and, correspondingly, with the encircling bands 124of such material as shown in FIG. 5. After the encircled rolls B, forexample, leave the banding unit 311, they continue to moveintermittently by the propelling movement of the endless conveyors 32until they reach the end thereof adjacent transverse shaft 38 shown inFIG. 2. At that point, the belts 44 continue propelling the coiled rollsl2 of material with the loosely encircling bands of securing material124 there around, such movement causing the rolls 12 and the bands 124to be moved over the upper surface of the heat-shrinking members 176, insuitably spaced relatioship thereto, for purposes of shrinking the bands124 of securing material in taut condition around the olls 12. Theresistance, and correspondingly, the current, which is furnished to theheat-shrinking means 176 is adequate to effect such shrinking of thebands of securing material by the time the bands reach theouter ends ofthe heatshrinking means as viewed in FIG. 2. It is to be noted that thebelts 4d which effect the movement of the rolls 12 relative to theheat-shrinking elements 176 are driven at a constant, uninterruptedspeed, as distinguished from the intermittent feed of the belts 32 ofthe endless conveyor 26. Such feed is effected by means of a drivesprocket or a pulley 178 which extends outwardly from gear reductionunit. 180 which is connected to and driven by electric motor 80. Anendless sprocket chain or belt 182,,see FIG. 7, extends around drivesprocket or pulley 184 which is fixed to drive shaft 52 upon which drivepulleys 50 are mounted which respectively engage the feed belts 44. ofthe additional conveyor 42, all of which is shown in FIG. 7.

The purpose of continuously rotating the banded rolls 12 whiletraversing the heat-shrinking area, wich is subtended longitudinally bythe heating units 176, is to permit the loosely encircling bands ofsecuring material 124 to be subjected evenly throughout the entirecircumference thereof to he heat generated by the heating means 176 and,in addition, to prevent any one portion thereof from being heated moreextensively than any other portion which, if permitted to occur,conceivably could damage the bands and possibly even sever the same bymelting the material. By the time the rolls 12 reach the exit end 28 ofthe machine, the one or more bands 124 which have been secured therearound are taut and effectively prevent uncoiling. the sheet materialcomprising said rolls.

The heater bars 176 which are specifically illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and4 are supported by exemplary means comprising a pair of transverse barsor rods 177 which extend between heads in the upper end of verticallyadjustable screw jacks 177' which are supported by suitable brackets onthe upper members of base frame 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Byadjusting the screw jacks 177 vertically in the directions required, theamount of heat directed against the securing bands which have beenapplied to rolls of coiled material 12 may be regulated so as,correspondingly, to control the shrinking of said bands. Sucharrangement, if desired, also permits the leading or trailing ends ofthe heater bars 176 to be disposed at different vertical levels relativeto the path of movement of the rolls 12. In addition, the heater bars176 also may be adjusted in transverse'direction relative to the path ofthe rolls 12, longitudinally of rods 177, such as in regard to varyingthe positions at which the securing bands 126 have been applied to therolls 12, as shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 10. Suitable rheostat orequivalent temperature control means, not shown, also may be employed.

DRIVE MECHANISM The drive mechanism for the machine is best shown inoverall condition in FIGS. ll and 7, while certain details thereof areillustrated to better advantage in FIG. 6. Further, P16. 4 also affordsa different view of some of the drive mechanism from that provided bythe aforementioned figures. Essentially, in addition to the electricmotor 811, the drive means for the machine preferably includes a secondelectric motor 186 which is driven intermittently by control :meanswhich are described in detail hereinafter. Motor 186 drives a gearreduction unit 188 which is provided with an output sprocket gear orpulley 190. A sprocket chain or belt 192 extendsaround the gear orpulley and an additional sprocket gear or pulley 194' which is connectedto shaft 196. 7

Base frame 18 also includes a pair of parallel lower beams 198respectively adjacent opposite sides of the machine. Extending betweenthe lower beams 198 is a transverse channel member 200, see FIG. 6, theopposite ends of which are welded to the beams 198. Intermediately ofthe ends of the channel member 200 is a bracket which has an angularlyextending arm 202 which, at its outer ends, pivotally supports acamfollowing arm 204, the outermost portion of which is provided with anarcuate slot 206. Adjustably mounted in slot 206 is a pivot bolt 208which connects one end of a connecting rod 210 pivotally to thetransverse bar 212 which supports blocks 142 for the clamping jaw 148,for purposes of actuating the arms 144 which support said transverse bar212.

Radially spaced from the pivot 214 for arm 204 is a pin 216 to which oneend ofa tension spring 218 is connected, the opposite end of the springextending around another connecting pin 220 carried by bracket 222 whichis connected to one side of channel 60 as shown in FIG. 6. The spring218 is relatively powerful in view of the leverage involved relative topivot 214 for purposes of moving the connecting rod 210 upwardly toeffect engagement of the clamping jaws 148 on transverse bar 212 withthe anvil jaws 140.

Movement of the arm 204 is effected by means of a cam224 which has alobe 226 thereon. The cam is fixed to the shaft 196 which is driven bygear or pulley 194. Such movement is controlled so that the shaft 196makes one complete revolution only each time the same is actuated bymotor 186. Such movement is controlled by mechanism described in detailhereinafter. Intermediately of the ends of the arm 204 is a camfollowerroll 228 which is best shown in FIG. 6. Said follower roll engages theperiphery of the cam 224 and also is engaged momentarily by the lobe 226during each single excursion thereof for one revolution. When the lobe226 engages the follower 228, the outer end of arm 204 is moveddownwardly and, correspondingly, the arms 144 which support the bar 212upon which the clamping jaws 148 are mounted likewise move downwardlybelow the level of the upper course of the endless belts 32, therebypermitting a roll 12 to move against the strip or strips 124 of handingmaterial which extend across the path of movement of said rolls asviewed in FIG. 5.

Immediately after the oncoming roll 12, identified as roll A in FIG. 5,has moved to the position shown by roll B, where the movement of theroll is stopped, the rotation of shaft 196 will cause lobe 226 todisengage the follower roll 228 and thereby permit the bar 212 uponwhich the clamping jaws 148 are mounted to effect engagement thereofwith the anvil jaws 140. The normal idle position of lobe 226 betweeneach single rotation thereof, is in engagement with the follower roll228, whereby the clamping jaws 148 do not obstruct the passage of rolls12 during movement to the position of roll B shown in FIG. 5.

Also mounted upon and fixed to drive shaft 196 are a pair of cam discs230 and 232 which are adjacent to each other in side by siderelationship and respectively are provided with peripheral face camgrooves 234 and 236 which are of uniform depth for the peripheral extentthereof. These grooves are shown in FIG. 6. In the actual preferredconstruction, the cam discs 230 and 232 are of equal diameter but forpurposes of illustration, to distinguish the same apart, disc 232 hasbeen illustrated as being of a slightly smaller diameter than disc 230.

Cooperating with the cam groove 234 is a cam follower 238 mounted on theend of an actuating arm for electric switch 240. Cam groove 236 coactswith cam follower 242 which is connected to and actuates electric switch244.

An idler sprocket gear 246 is suitably supported by the main frame 18 inthe same vertical plane as powered sprocket gear 70. A sprocket chain248 extends around the sprocket gear and 246. Said sprocket chain isprovided with a plurality of laterally extending lugs 250 and 252 whichare clearly shown in FIG. 6. These lugs successively engage followerroll 254 on switch 256 and follower roll 258 on switch 260.

The switches 256 and 260 are connected suitably in a circuit, not shown,with the electrical means which actuate the magnetically operated clutchmechanism of the clutch-brake unit 78 shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. Asindicated above, when the operation of the machine is initiated, bymeans to be described, the motor 80 is energized and operatescontinuously. The same continuously drives the belts 44 to move therolls past the heatshrinking means 176 of the machine. The clutch-brakeunit 78 however effects intermittent movement of the driving sprocketgear 70 on gear reduction unit 76. As a consequence, sprocket chain 248is moved intermittently, as is also the sprocket chain 72 which passesaround drive pulley 36 on shaft 38 which actuates the feed belts 32which move the rolls 12 to the banding unit 30. Sprocket chain 72 alsopasses around idler sprocket 262, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The motor 186 has an electric clutch unit 264 connected thereto. Saidmotor operates continuously, but, because of the functioning of theelectric clutch unit 264, the sprocket gear 190 on gear reduction unit188 sequentially operates one revolution at a time in order to drive theshaft 196 for cam 224 only a single revolution at a time for purposes ofmoving the clamping jaws 148 into engagement with the anvil jaws 140.

Referring to FIG. 1, adjacent the right hand end thereof, there is aninitiating switch 266 which is engaged successively by the rolls 12 asthey are discharged from the rewinding unit 10. Said switch has anappropriate actuating arm thereon which may be of a relatively sensitivenature and may be engaged by the rolls 12 as delivered to the receivingend 14 of the banding machine 16 or actuated cyclically by the rewindingmachine 10. For purposes of describing the overall operation of themachine as controlled by the operations is set forth.

ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM It is not believed that a detailed wiringdiagram is necessary in order to illustrate the functioning of theelectrical control system. Referring to FIG. 9 the control panel 268 isshown with appropriate legends indicated thereon. Said panel includes amaster switch 270 which controls the entire'electrical circuit. Startand Stop buttons of switch 272 connect or disconnect the bander unit 30into the system. Similar start and stop buttons of switch 274 aremounted upon the panel 268 for controlling the operation of the conveyormechanisms. The heat-shrinking units are controlled by a further switch276. In addition, a signal light 278 indicates if the heat-shrinkingmembers 176 are functioning. Similarly, an additional signal light 280is connected in circuit with the resistance wire 154 which fuses thebanding strips in the manner described above.

At the completion of banding a run of rolls 12 from the rewinder 10, itwill be seen that after the last roll fromthe rewinder has entered theband-ing machine and has actuated switch 266, re-cycling means in therewinding machine will cause the banding machine to function so as toclear it of banded rolls. However, the controlpanel 268includes a switchdirectly behind push button 282 which can be repeatedly closed, ifnecessary, by pressing the button and thereby simulate the action ofswitch 266 for purposes of clearing the banding machine if the rewindingmachine has been stopped. Likewise, theswitch or button 282 may be usedto manually cycle the banding machine, such as for hand feeding of rolls12 to said machine.

The cycle of operation of the banding machine 16 starts by closingswitch 270 and also pushing the start buttons of 272 and 274, as well asclosing switch 276 for the heater unit. Upon the switch 266 beingengaged by 'a roll 12 delivered from the rewinder for example, theclutch of unit '78 is engaged to initiate operation of sprocket gear 70which drives the switchactuating chain 248 and also chain 72 to causethe belts 32 to advance. This operation initiates driving movement ofthe feed belts 32 and after the rolls 12 have been advanced thereby ashort distance, the lug 252 on chain 248 engages switch 260 to declutchunit 78 and apply the brake thereof which causes the feed belts 32 tostop. Meanwhile, lug 250 on chain 248 has actuated switch 256 which isconnected in circuit with the clutch unit 264 of motor 186 and therebycauses the same to drive sprocket gear 190 sufficiently to effect asingle rotation of cam 224 which results in the spring 218 elevating'theconnecting rods 210 to move the clamping jaws 148 against the stationaryanvil 140.

During the rotation of cam 224, the cam discs 230 and 232 have beenrotated during the single revolution of cam 224. The cam grooves 234 and236 in said cam discs sequentially operate switches 238 and 240, one ofwhich is connected in circuit with and controls the firing" ofresistance wire 154 on each of the anvil jaws 140. The current as wellas the resistance of said wires is such that the wires instantly heat tofusing temperatures inorder to simultaneously seal portions of theencircling band or bands 124 around the roll 10 as well as fuse the endsof the two strips of band together to form a joint 138 therein andthereby disposed the connected band 124 in position to be engaged by thenext oncoming roll 12 as viewed in FIG. 5. The current being furnishedto the resistance wire 154 is controlled by a cam groove and lobesequence which actuates a control switch in a commercial thermal impulseunit, not shown, which regulates this firing" duration. The other camgroove operates the other switch of the pair 240 and 244 to open theclutch unit 264 at the completion of a single revolution of the cam 224,while the motor 186 continues to operate. All the while, the motor 80has been operating continuously to correspondingly move the belts 44 ofadditional conveyor 42 by which the banded rolls 12 are moved throughthe band-shrinking cycle which is effected by the heating members 176.At the completion of such cycle of operation of the various switches,the operation of the feed belts 32 and the banding unit 30 momentarilystops until the next roll discharged from the rewind machine 10, forexample, actuates switch 266, whereupon the above-described cycle isrepeated.

For purposes of precisely controlling and re-orienting the position ofthe rolls 12 as they are presented to the banding unit 30, attention isdirected to FIG. 1 where it will be seen that a transverse shaft 284extends through and is supported by the'side plates 82 of the main frame24. A pair of L-sh aped arms 286 are supported in longitudinally spacedrelationship upon shaft 284, the upstanding portions of said arms beingarcuate. A short lever 288 extends downwardly from shaft 284 and issuitably interconnected by a link 290 to transverse bar 212 whichsupports the clamping jaws 148. The arcuate movement of bar 212 which iscfjaws 140, thenext oncoming roll 12 will be engaged by said upstandingarcuate portions of the levers 288 and accurately position the same bycamming the said roll slightly forward and thereby precisely determinethe position thereof so that upon the next intermittent advancingmovement of the belts 321, said roll will be disposed precisely asdesired with respect to the stationary anvil jaws and the clamping jaws148, such as approximately into position of the roll 12 which is illustrated as being banded in FIG. 5.

An exemplary illustration of how such precise posi tioning is effectedby arms 286 is illustrated in FIG. 11, wherein an inter-mediate positionof the upstanding camming portioniof the arms is shown in phantom, whilethe final position of the roll 12 and such camming portions of arms286are shown in full lines. It will be understood that a pair of such arms286, levers 288, and links 290 are utilized at positions spacedlongitudinally of shaft 284 to insure even movement of the roll 12 tomaintain the same perpendicular to the path of movement thereof throughthe machine. 1

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its severalpreferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is notto be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and describedsince the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scopeof the invention as illustrated and described.

We claim:

ll. A banding machine to apply one or more bands around a sheet ofmaterial coiled aboutan axis to form a roll thereof, said machinecomprising in combination, conveying means adapted to receive coiledrolls of said material in randomly spaced relationship and feed the sameinto said machine while maintained in coiled condition, power means todrive said conveyor unidirectionally, and control means for said powermeans operable to drive said conveyor intermittently for substantiallyeven intervals of time to effect stopping of said rolls between periodsof movement thereof; a bandapplying unit arranged to receive said coiledrolls from said conveying means and comprising an anvil jaw and aclamping jaw, means to support said jaws for relative movement towardand from engagement with each other between two of said rolls upon saidconveying means, and means to support at least one coil of bandingmaterial of fusible and heatshrinl able type adjacent said band-applyingunit, one of said jaws having heating means operable to fuse togetherstrips of said banding material when extended around said coiled rollsto form endless bands therearound, said intermittent operation of saidconveyor resulting in interrupting movement of said rolls at saidbanding unit when such relative movement of said jaws as aforesaid iseffected and thereby permit at least one of said jaws to move between apair of successive rolls to effect banding thereof; heatedband-shrinking means, and means to move banded coiled rolls of materialrelative to said band-shrinking means while maintained in coiledcondition to shrink bands contiguous to said rolls prior to dischargefrom said machine.

2. The banding machine according to claim 1 in which said machinefurther includes means to drive said conveying means intermittently toeffect successive movements of said rolls in feeding direction betweenshort periods of non-movement of said rolls by said conveying means, andsaid application of bands around said rolls occurring while said rollsare stopped between said movements thereof in feeding direction.

3. The banding machine according to claim l in which said conveyingmeans comprises an endless conveyor driven intermittently to supportrolls of said material, and said machine including elongated, stationarymembers parallel to said conveyor and spaced therefrom to define afeeding space within which said rolls of material engage the surfacesdefining said space and thereby are caused to rotate during movements ofsaid conveyor in a direction to maintain the material on said rollscoiled.

4. The banding machine according to claim 1 in which said means to movesaid rolls relative to said band-shrinking means comprises a conveyorand a parallel stationary member spaced thereform adequately to receivesaid rollstherebetween and engage the same, and means to drive saidconveyor continuously in a direction to cause said rolls to rotatecontinuously in a direction to maintain the same in coiled condition.

5. The banding machine according to claim 1 in which said conveyingmeans comprises an endless conveyor driven intermittently and said meansto move said rolls relative to said band-shrinking means comprises aconstantly driven endless conveyor, and said machine also includingelongated stationary means parallel to said conveyors and spacedtherefrom sufficiently to receive said rolls therebetween to effectrotation of said rolls relative to said stationary means by saidconveyors in directions to maintain the rolls in coiled condition.

6. The banding machine according to claim 1 further including atransverse supporting bar extending across said machine above saidconveying means and having means thereon to support said anvil jawstationarily relative to said conveying means and adjustablelongitudinally of said transverse supporting bar, and an additionaltransverse supporting bar extending across said machine below saidconveying means and movable toward and from the same, said clamping jawbeing carried by said additional transverse supporting bar for movementtherewith toward and from said stationary anvil jaw 7. The bandingmachine according to claim 6 further including means to adjust saidstationary anvil jaws substantially vertically upon said transversesupporting bar therefore to adapt the machine to accommodate coiledrolls of material of different diameters at the initiation of a run ofrolls of said material of uniform diameter through said machine. I

8. The banding machine according to claim 1 further including astationary frame in which said anvil jaw is supported stationarily bysaid frame in operative position above said conveying means and saidmachine including a movable arm positioned below said conveying meansand supporting said clamping jaw for movement toward and from saidstationary anvil jaw, cam means interengageable with said movable arm tooscillate it, and power means interconnected to said cam means toactuate the same.

9. The banding machine according to claim 8 further including anactuating lever pivotally supported by said stationary frame of saidmachine, said cam means operable by said power means being engageablewith said actuating lever to move one end thereof through'an arc, andsaid machine including a connecting rod extending between said lever andmovable arm for said clamping jaw.

10. The banding machine according to claim 9 in which said actuatinglever is provided with a slot at one end of said connecting rod beingadjustably and pivotally interconnected to said lever along said slotand adjustable relative to the slot to vary the length of theoscillatory path of movement of said movable arrn and clamping jawthereon.

11. The banding machine according to claim 1 in which said conveyingmeans comprises a pair of parallel endless belts supported upon rollerssupported by a main stationary frame, said belts being spacedtransversely a predetermined distance adequate to support coiled rollsof material without tilting, said machine also including an auxiliaryframe adjustably supported above said main stationary frame, a pair ofparallel guide rails supported by said auxiliary frame in verticallyspaced relationship to one course of said belts and in verticalalignment therewith, and pairs of bell cranks supported by said mainstationary frame and interconnected to said auxiliary frame at spacedlocation, and operable to vary the height of the vertical space be tweensaid belts and the guide rails within which coiled rolls of material aremoved along a path parallel to said belts and rails.

12. The banding machine according to claim 11 further including pairs ofsaid bell cranks pivotally supported by said upwardly extending supportson said main frame and one end of said bell cranks being pivotallyconnected to said auxiliary frame, a pair of said auxiliary supports andbell cranks respectively being mounted adjacent opposite sides of saidmain frame, a shaft extending transversely across said auxiliary framein alignment with the pivotal connections for said bell cranks andfixedly connected to said pivotal connections for simultaneous actuationof transversely aligned pairs of said bell cranks, and a rod extendingalong one side of said machine between said bell cranks on said one sidethereof and operable to simultaneously actuate all of said bell cranksin unison to effect vertical ad justment of said auxiliary frame andguide rails supported thereby relative to said endless belts upon saidmain frame of said machine.

13. The banding machine according to claim 11 in which said machineincludes a base frame adapted to be supported above a floor surface andsaid main frame extends longitudinally along and above said base frame,

and said machine including pivot means supported by said base frame andinterconnected to said main frame intermediately of the ends thereof,and vertically adjustable positioning means supported by said. baseframe and connected to the main frame adjacent the receiving end of saidconveying means thereon to ad: just the height of said receiving end ofthe conveying means relative to supply means for feeding coiled rolls ofmaterial to said conveyor.

14; A banding machine to apply one or more bands around a coiled sheetof material to form a coiled roll thereof and prevent uncoiling thereof,said machine comprising in combination, a conveyor adapted to receivecoiled rolls of said material and rotate said rolls in the direction inwhich the material is coiled thereon to prevent uncoiling thereof whilemoving along a path in said machine, means adapted to apply at least oneband of heat-shrinkable fusible material around said rolls at apredetermined position located in said path, means to move said conveyorintermittently between successive short periods of non-movement of saidrolls to permit attachment of at least one of said bands loosely aroundeach of said rolls, while stationary between movements thereof heatingmeans downstream in said path for said rolls and extendinglongitudinally therealong a sufficient distance to shrink said bandclosely around each roll, additional conveyor means supporting saidrolls for movement along said heating means and adjacent thereto toeffect such shrinking of said bands around said rolls, and means toeffect continuous rotation of said rolls as moved by saidadditionalconveyor along said path in proximity to said heating means. i V

15. The banding machine according to claim 14 in which said heatingmeans are elongated and positioned beneath said additional conveyormeans, and said machine further including means interconnected to andoperable to adjust said heaters vertically toward and from saidadditional conveyor to assist in controlling the shrinking of said bandsof banding material.

16. The bandingmachine according to claim 14 in which said band-applyingmeans for said heatshrinkable material comprises a stationary anvilmounted above said first-mentioned conveyor and a movable clamping jawsupported for movement from below said first-mentioned conveyor towardand from said stationary anvil to form bands around said coiled rolls ofmaterial, said bands being fused therearound while said rolls aremomentarily supported stationarily by said first-mentioned conveyor.

17. The banding machine according to claim 16 further. including guiderails extending longitudinally along said machine substantiallycontinuously between the opposite ends thereof and above saidfirstmentioned and additional conveyors for cooperation therewith toeffect rotation of coiled rolls of material as moved through saidmachine by said conveyors, said rolls of material engaging the lowersurfaces of said guide rail.

18. The banding machine according to claim 16 further including powermeans interconnected to and operable to drive said additional conveyorcontinuously, and clutch and brake means connected to said power meansand interconnected to said first-mentioned conveyor to operate the sameinter-mittently, and cam means operable during'each cycle of operationof said band-applying and sealing means to effect sequential operationof said clutch and brake means to cause said v 18 intermittent movementof said first-mentioned conveyor.

19. The banding machine according to claim 16 in which said bandingmaterial also is fusible and said ma chine also includingheat sealingmeans supported on one of said jaws and comprising electrical resistancemeans, switch means controlling the supply of current to said sealingmeans, and cam means operable by power means to control the actuation ofsaid switch means.

, 20. The banding machine according to claim 19 in which said powermeans is operable jointly to drive said conveyors as aforesaid and alsodrive said cam means.

21. The banding machine according to claim 20 further including clutchand brake means driven by said power means and interconnected to saidcam means to effect sequential operation thereof.

22. A banding machine to apply one or more securing bands around acoiled sheet of material in the form of a roll to prevent the same fromuncoiling, said maching comprising in combination, conveyor meansoperable to receive and advance such coiled rolls in spaced relationshipto each other, band-applying means positioned relative to said conveyorto apply at least one securing band around the leading roll of a seriesthereof when advanced to said band-applying means by said conveyor,means to drive said conveyor at a predetermined rate and manner, andre-orienting cam means positioned in advance of said band-applying meansrelative said conveyor and operable to engage said rolls sequentiallyadjacent said band-applying means and prior to being banded thereby toposition said rolls in precise relationship to said band-applying means,thereby to insure relatively uniform application of Se curing bands tosaid rolls as successively engaged by said applying means.

23. The banding machine. according to claim 22 in which said drivemeansfor said conveyor is operable to move the same intermittently andsaid re-orienting cam means comprising a cam element mounted for movementtransverse to the path or movement of said rolls by said conveyorand into engagement with the trailing surface of said rolls prior tosaidrolls being banded.

2d. The banding machine according to claim 22 in which a pair of saidcam elements are mounted in transversely spaced relationship relative tothe path of movement of said rolls for engagement with longitudinallyspaced portions of said rolls to prevent cocked engagement of saidrollsby said banding means.

25. The banding machine according to claim 23 in which said securingbands are composed of fusible material, said banding means comprise apair of relatively movable anvil and clamping jaws, and said machinealso including heating means on one of said jaws to fuse said bandsaround said rolls when said jaws are moved into engagement betweenadjacent rolls when said rolls are not being advanced by said conveyor,and means to move said jaws relative to each other as aforesaid.

26. The banding machine according to claim 25 further includingactuating means connected to said cam element to move the same towardand from camming engagement with said rolls, and means connectingsaidactuating means to said means to move said jaws to providecoincident movement of said cam element and clamping of said securingbands by said jaws to fuse the same.

27. The banding machine according to claim 26 in which said anvil jaw isstationary and positioned immediately above said path of movement ofsaid rolls and said clamping anvil is moved toward and from engagementtherewith to effect said fusing of said securing bands by passingbetween adjacent rolls on said conveyor which are precisely spaced bythe action of said cam element.

28. A banding machine to apply one or more bands around a sheet ofmaterial coiled about an axis to form a roll thereof, said machinecomprising in combination, roll receiving means, a banding unit, aheat-shrinking unit, and control means; said receiving means including aconveyor for sequentially receiving rolls to be banded and operable torotate said rolls to maintain the material thereon coiled, and deliversaid coiled rolls to said banding unit; said banding unit includingmeans for supporting a width of heat-shrinkable material in interceptingrelationship with the rolls conveyed thereto by said receiving means,and a heated anvil and clamping jaw combination operative in cyclicmovement be tween an opened position to permit passage of said rollsthrough said banding unit and a closed position to dispose a section ofsaid heat-shrinkable material around the periphery of an interceptedroll and also sever and seal the same, thereby forming an endless bandaround said roll and reconstituting the width of heat-shrinkablematerial for interception by the next sequential roll; saidheat-shrinking unit including conveyor means operable to move saidbanded roll from said banding unit to discharge while rotating saidrolls to continue to maintain the material thereon coiled, and heatingmeans mounted in proximity to the band on said roll for shrinking saidband contiguous to said roll; said control means cyclically operatingsaid anvil and clamping jaw between said open and closed positionswherein said anvil and jaw are maintained in said closed position for afixed period of time, and further including means for interruptingmovement of said roll at said banding station'during said fixed periodof time, whereby said rolls are moved sequentially from said receivingmeans to said banding unit and into intercepting relation with a widthof said heat-shrinkable material and are maintained stationary for afixed period of time in said banding unit during which time a band ofthe heatshrinkable material is formed around said roll and severed froma supply roll thereof and sealed to form simultaneously a band and areconstituted width of heatshrink material, said banded rolls then beingmoved from the banding unit to the heat-shrinking unit to effect saidshrinking of the bands contiguous to the periphery of the roll of sheetmaterial.

1. A banding machine to apply one or more bands around a sheet ofmaterial coiled about an axis to form a roll thereof, said machinecomprising in combination, conveying means adapted to receive coiledrolls of said material in randomly spaced relationship and feed the sameinto said machine while maintained in coiled condition, power means todrive said conveyor unidirectionally, and control means for said powermeans operable to drive said conveyor intermittently for substantiallyeven intervals of time to effect stopping of said rolls between periodsof movement thereof; a band-applying unit arranged to receive saidcoiled rolls from said conveying means and comprising an anvil jaw and aclamping jaw, means to support said jaws for relative movement towardand from engagement with each other between two of said rolls upon saidconveying means, and means to support at least one coil of bandingmaterial of fusible and heat-shrinkable type adjacent said band-applyingunit, one of said jaws having heating means operable to fuse togetherstrips of said banding material when extended around said coiled rollsto form endless bands therearound, said intermittent operation of saidconveyor resulting in interrupting movement of said rolls at saidbanding unit when such relative movement of said jaws as aforesaid iseffected and thereby permit at least one of said jaws to move between apair of successive rolls to effect banding thereof; heatedband-shrinking means, and means to move banded coiled rolls of materialrelative to said band-shrinking means while maintained in coiledcondition to shrink bands contiguous to said rolls prior to dischargefrom said machine.
 2. The banding machine according to claim 1 in whichsaid machine further includes means to drive said conveying meansintermittently to effect successive movements of said rolls in feedingdirection between short periods of non-movement of said rolls by saidconveying means, and said application of bands around said rollsoccurring while said rolls are stopped between said movements thereof infeeding direction.
 3. The banding machine according to claim 1 in whichsaid conveying means comprises an endless conveyor driven intermittentlyto support rolls of said material, and said machine including elongated,stationary members parallel to said conveyor and spaced therefrom todefine a feeding space within which said rolls of material engage thesurfaces defining said space and thereby are caused to rotate duringmovements of said conveyor in a direction to maintain the material onsaid rolls coiled.
 4. The banding machine according to claim 1 in whichsaid means to move said rolls relative to said band-shrinking meanscomprises a conveyor and a parallel stationary member spaced thereformadequately to receive said rolls therebetween and engage the same, andmeans to drive said conveyor continuously in a direction to cause saidrolls to rotate continuously in a direction to maintain the same incoiled condition.
 5. The banding machine according to claim 1 in whichsaid conveying means comprises an endless conveyor driven intermittentlyand said means to move said rolls relative to said band-shrinking meanscomprises a constantly driven endless conveyor, and said machine alsoincludinG elongated stationary means parallel to said conveyors andspaced therefrom sufficiently to receive said rolls therebetween toeffect rotation of said rolls relative to said stationary means by saidconveyors in directions to maintain the rolls in coiled condition. 6.The banding machine according to claim 1 further including a transversesupporting bar extending across said machine above said conveying meansand having means thereon to support said anvil jaw stationarily relativeto said conveying means and adjustable longitudinally of said transversesupporting bar, and an additional transverse supporting bar extendingacross said machine below said conveying means and movable toward andfrom the same, said clamping jaw being carried by said additionaltransverse supporting bar for movement therewith toward and from saidstationary anvil jaw.
 7. The banding machine according to claim 6further including means to adjust said stationary anvil jawssubstantially vertically upon said transverse supporting bar thereforeto adapt the machine to accommodate coiled rolls of material ofdifferent diameters at the initiation of a run of rolls of said materialof uniform diameter through said machine.
 8. The banding machineaccording to claim 1 further including a stationary frame in which saidanvil jaw is supported stationarily by said frame in operative positionabove said conveying means and said machine including a movable armpositioned below said conveying means and supporting said clamping jawfor movement toward and from said stationary anvil jaw, cam meansinterengageable with said movable arm to oscillate it, and power meansinterconnected to said cam means to actuate the same.
 9. The bandingmachine according to claim 8 further including an actuating leverpivotally supported by said stationary frame of said machine, said cammeans operable by said power means being engageable with said actuatinglever to move one end thereof through an arc, and said machine includinga connecting rod extending between said lever and movable arm for saidclamping jaw.
 10. The banding machine according to claim 9 in which saidactuating lever is provided with a slot at one end of said connectingrod being adjustably and pivotally interconnected to said lever alongsaid slot and adjustable relative to the slot to vary the length of theoscillatory path of movement of said movable arm and clamping jawthereon.
 11. The banding machine according to claim 1 in which saidconveying means comprises a pair of parallel endless belts supportedupon rollers supported by a main stationary frame, said belts beingspaced transversely a predetermined distance adequate to support coiledrolls of material without tilting, said machine also including anauxiliary frame adjustably supported above said main stationary frame, apair of parallel guide rails supported by said auxiliary frame invertically spaced relationship to one course of said belts and invertical alignment therewith, and pairs of bell cranks supported by saidmain stationary frame and interconnected to said auxiliary frame atspaced location, and operable to vary the height of the vertical spacebetween said belts and the guide rails within which coiled rolls ofmaterial are moved along a path parallel to said belts and rails. 12.The banding machine according to claim 11 further including pairs ofsaid bell cranks pivotally supported by said upwardly extending supportson said main frame and one end of said bell cranks being pivotallyconnected to said auxiliary frame, a pair of said auxiliary supports andbell cranks respectively being mounted adjacent opposite sides of saidmain frame, a shaft extending transversely across said auxiliary framein alignment with the pivotal connections for said bell cranks andfixedly connected to said pivotal connections for simultaneous actuationof transversely aligned pairs of said bell cranks, and a rod extendingalong one side of said machine between said bell cranks on said onE sidethereof and operable to simultaneously actuate all of said bell cranksin unison to effect vertical adjustment of said auxiliary frame andguide rails supported thereby relative to said endless belts upon saidmain frame of said machine.
 13. The banding machine according to claim11 in which said machine includes a base frame adapted to be supportedabove a floor surface and said main frame extends longitudinally alongand above said base frame, and said machine including pivot meanssupported by said base frame and interconnected to said main frameintermediately of the ends thereof, and vertically adjustablepositioning means supported by said base frame and connected to the mainframe adjacent the receiving end of said conveying means thereon toadjust the height of said receiving end of the conveying means relativeto supply means for feeding coiled rolls of material to said conveyor.14. A banding machine to apply one or more bands around a coiled sheetof material to form a coiled roll thereof and prevent uncoiling thereof,said machine comprising in combination, a conveyor adapted to receivecoiled rolls of said material and rotate said rolls in the direction inwhich the material is coiled thereon to prevent uncoiling thereof whilemoving along a path in said machine, means adapted to apply at least oneband of heat-shrinkable fusible material around said rolls at apredetermined position located in said path, means to move said conveyorintermittently between successive short periods of non-movement of saidrolls to permit attachment of at least one of said bands loosely aroundeach of said rolls, while stationary between movements thereof heatingmeans downstream in said path for said rolls and extendinglongitudinally therealong a sufficient distance to shrink said bandclosely around each roll, additional conveyor means supporting saidrolls for movement along said heating means and adjacent thereto toeffect such shrinking of said bands around said rolls, and means toeffect continuous rotation of said rolls as moved by said additionalconveyor along said path in proximity to said heating means.
 15. Thebanding machine according to claim 14 in which said heating means areelongated and positioned beneath said additional conveyor means, andsaid machine further including means interconnected to and operable toadjust said heaters vertically toward and from said additional conveyorto assist in controlling the shrinking of said bands of bandingmaterial.
 16. The banding machine according to claim 14 in which saidband-applying means for said heat-shrinkable material comprises astationary anvil mounted above said first-mentioned conveyor and amovable clamping jaw supported for movement from below saidfirst-mentioned conveyor toward and from said stationary anvil to formbands around said coiled rolls of material, said bands being fusedtherearound while said rolls are momentarily supported stationarily bysaid first-mentioned conveyor.
 17. The banding machine according toclaim 16 further including guide rails extending longitudinally alongsaid machine substantially continuously between the opposite endsthereof and above said first-mentioned and additional conveyors forcooperation therewith to effect rotation of coiled rolls of material asmoved through said machine by said conveyors, said rolls of materialengaging the lower surfaces of said guide rail.
 18. The banding machineaccording to claim 16 further including power means interconnected toand operable to drive said additional conveyor continuously, and clutchand brake means connected to said power means and interconnected to saidfirst-mentioned conveyor to operate the same inter-mittently, and cammeans operable during each cycle of operation of said band-applying andsealing means to effect sequential operation of said clutch and brakemeans to cause said intermittent movement of said first-mentionedconveyor.
 19. The banding machine according to claim 16 in which saidbanding Material also is fusible and said machine also including heatsealing means supported on one of said jaws and comprising electricalresistance means, switch means controlling the supply of current to saidsealing means, and cam means operable by power means to control theactuation of said switch means.
 20. The banding machine according toclaim 19 in which said power means is operable jointly to drive saidconveyors as aforesaid and also drive said cam means.
 21. The bandingmachine according to claim 20 further including clutch and brake meansdriven by said power means and interconnected to said cam means toeffect sequential operation thereof.
 22. A banding machine to apply oneor more securing bands around a coiled sheet of material in the form ofa roll to prevent the same from uncoiling, said maching comprising incombination, conveyor means operable to receive and advance such coiledrolls in spaced relationship to each other, band-applying meanspositioned relative to said conveyor to apply at least one securing bandaround the leading roll of a series thereof when advanced to saidband-applying means by said conveyor, means to drive said conveyor at apredetermined rate and manner, and re-orienting cam means positioned inadvance of said band-applying means relative said conveyor and operableto engage said rolls sequentially adjacent said band-applying means andprior to being banded thereby to position said rolls in preciserelationship to said band-applying means, thereby to insure relativelyuniform application of securing bands to said rolls as successivelyengaged by said applying means.
 23. The banding machine according toclaim 22 in which said drive means for said conveyor is operable to movethe same intermittently and said re-orienting cam means comprising a camelement mounted for movement transverse to the path or movement of saidrolls by said conveyor and into engagement with the trailing surface ofsaid rolls prior to said rolls being banded.
 24. The banding machineaccording to claim 22 in which a pair of said cam elements are mountedin transversely spaced relationship relative to the path of movement ofsaid rolls for engagement with longitudinally spaced portions of saidrolls to prevent cocked engagement of said rolls by said banding means.25. The banding machine according to claim 23 in which said securingbands are composed of fusible material, said banding means comprise apair of relatively movable anvil and clamping jaws, and said machinealso including heating means on one of said jaws to fuse said bandsaround said rolls when said jaws are moved into engagement betweenadjacent rolls when said rolls are not being advanced by said conveyor,and means to move said jaws relative to each other as aforesaid.
 26. Thebanding machine according to claim 25 further including actuating meansconnected to said cam element to move the same toward and from cammingengagement with said rolls, and means connecting said actuating means tosaid means to move said jaws to provide coincident movement of said camelement and clamping of said securing bands by said jaws to fuse thesame.
 27. The banding machine according to claim 26 in which said anviljaw is stationary and positioned immediately above said path of movementof said rolls and said clamping anvil is moved toward and fromengagement therewith to effect said fusing of said securing bands bypassing between adjacent rolls on said conveyor which are preciselyspaced by the action of said cam element.
 28. A banding machine to applyone or more bands around a sheet of material coiled about an axis toform a roll thereof, said machine comprising in combination, rollreceiving means, a banding unit, a heat-shrinking unit, and controlmeans; said receiving means including a conveyor for sequentiallyreceiving rolls to be banded and operable to rotate said rolls tomaintain the material thereon coiled, and deliver said coiled rolls tosaid banding unit; said banding unit inclUding means for supporting awidth of heat-shrinkable material in intercepting relationship with therolls conveyed thereto by said receiving means, and a heated anvil andclamping jaw combination operative in cyclic movement between an openedposition to permit passage of said rolls through said banding unit and aclosed position to dispose a section of said heat-shrinkable materialaround the periphery of an intercepted roll and also sever and seal thesame, thereby forming an endless band around said roll andreconstituting the width of heat-shrinkable material for interception bythe next sequential roll; said heat-shrinking unit including conveyormeans operable to move said banded roll from said banding unit todischarge while rotating said rolls to continue to maintain the materialthereon coiled, and heating means mounted in proximity to the band onsaid roll for shrinking said band contiguous to said roll; said controlmeans cyclically operating said anvil and clamping jaw between said openand closed positions wherein said anvil and jaw are maintained in saidclosed position for a fixed period of time, and further including meansfor interrupting movement of said roll at said banding station duringsaid fixed period of time, whereby said rolls are moved sequentiallyfrom said receiving means to said banding unit and into interceptingrelation with a width of said heat-shrinkable material and aremaintained stationary for a fixed period of time in said banding unitduring which time a band of the heat-shrinkable material is formedaround said roll and severed from a supply roll thereof and sealed toform simultaneously a band and a reconstituted width of heat-shrinkmaterial, said banded rolls then being moved from the banding unit tothe heat-shrinking unit to effect said shrinking of the bands contiguousto the periphery of the roll of sheet material.